The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-04
branch Office at Turin, and offer young

Nothing definite however. had been
fixed, when one day Tommy, finding
Maria Marsoni alone when he called at
the villa, lost his head completely, and
was making love as we'll as his impcr-
feet knowledge of Italian permitted.
when the Count, suddenly coming in,
caught him in the net of kissing his
daughters hand.
Maria fled like hare disturbed on her
form. and the Co int advanced with n
heavy frown on his aristocratic brow.
More rs matter of form than any
thing else. for he knew his case was
hopeless. Mathers formally asked the
hand of signorina in marriage. laying
the blame of his irregular declaration
on the strength of his passion and his
ignorance of Italian etiquette.
The Count heard him to the end, and
then surveyed him from head to foot
with a look of contempt.
1T is piece of gross presumption
II you-a mere clerk, nobody-to adj
dress my daughter" said the Count at
last in English, with his chin in the air,
"Of course" said Tommy. bitterly,
stung by the Counts look. "lf were
n partner of Hodgson's, though, you
would give me a different answer"
"lf you were a partner in Messrs.
IIodgson, Dunford & PARIS" said the
Count, with an altered expression,
that would make difference of
course; but rs do not understand that
YOU have any prospect of entering that
firm, do not see how that affects YOU. d."
Tommy sighed, and made his escape
as soon as possible He knew that
he might us well ask for the Lord
Chan ccllorship MS ask for a partnership
in the bank.
For two days he rcma ned in Il state
of collapse and then received advices
from London informing him of the de-
cision to which the firm had come with
respect to the new branch. A few
months before Mathers would have
been transported with delight at the
proposal which the firm made to him;
but now he considered that he was get
ting barely his due, and, besides he
was so badly cut with respect to the
beautiful Maria that mere commercial
matters did hot possess their usual in
tercst for him.
Suddenly, rs he sat with the open
letter bearing the well known signature
before him, Tommy conceived an idea.
Without moments delay he called
for his bill at the hotel, sent waiter
for cab. and took the first train north.
ward. He arrived at Victoria early IN
tho morning. went to hotel, washed
and dressed himself, and. purposcly
delaying until the partners should
have reached the office in st. Swithin $
lane, he presented himself before his
employers rs they were engaged in
discussing the mornings letters.
Hello, sir!' cried Mr.. Hodgson, as
he caught sight of the young man.
What are you doing herep Anything
wrong?"
Nothing is wrong that know Of
SIR said the young man coolly.
Then why are you here without
leavc?n asked the Junior partner
Didn't you get our letter informing
you of our new arrangements"
Il did, Mr.. Parr 1t is in conse-
quence of that letter that am here"
I his was said with considerable
gravity. aud Tommy helped himself TO
"A chair us he spoke. u am afraid,
SIR" he continued, that can not ac-
cept the situation you were good
enough TO offer me at Turin"
Don't, thcn!" burst out old Mr.
Hogdson. in great wrath at the tone
which the young man was assuming.
Wen find fifty clerks ready to Jump
at it-500 for that matter"
You forget, sir" said Tommy, re-
specially but firmly, "that have been
ut Turin for some time. know the
business there; and what came here
to propose was that should have Il
small share in the firm"
Mr. Parr stared and calculated,
What. sir.
Mr.. Dunford laughed aloud aud then
sworc.
Mr.. Hodgson choked and gasped for
breath. ia shell had burst in the
room il conld NOT have occasioned moro